Maine's Biggest Racing Week Returns: Oxford 250 Set for 53rd Running

OXFORD — Oxford Plains Speedway officially launched the most anticipated week in Maine auto racing on Wednesday, hosting its annual media day ahead of Sunday's Oxford 250. Drivers from across New England gathered at the track, with several notable storylines emerging as the race's 53rd edition draws near.

A New Hampshire Contingent Eyes the Crown

While the Oxford 250 has historically been dominated by Maine drivers, four New Hampshire natives are among the top contenders heading into this weekend. Jimmy Renfrew Jr. of Candia, Kyle Salemi of Nashua, and Gabe Brown and DJ Shaw, both of Center Conway, are all expected to challenge for the checkered flag.

Renfrew emphasized the event's stature beyond state lines. "Obviously, this is the biggest race in New England," he said. "Everybody — not just Maine drivers or New Hampshire drivers — people come from Connecticut and Canada. Everybody wants to win this race. So it's one of the crown jewel races in the country, like the Snowball Derby, Winchester 400, stuff like that."

Shaw, who won the Celebration of America 300 in July, will be looking for his first Oxford 250 victory after finishing third in the event for three consecutive years, including 2025. Reflecting on his recent win, Shaw noted that the timing of cautions played to his strengths, and he sees room for improvement.

"We weren't the best short-run car," Shaw explained. "The runs of that race fell perfectly for us. Had it been 10 laps shorter, it wasn't a long enough race. So, need to fire off a little better, just be a little better overall on balance. I feel like we're close, we just need to hone in on those things and take the next step to be consistently at the front all day."

Shaw added that he's confident one of the Granite State drivers will bring the trophy home. "All of us are strong contenders, in my opinion, to take the checkered flag back to New Hampshire. Hopefully it goes to my house, and we'll try to be the one to get it done this time and make everybody proud."

A Legend Still in the Fight

At 76 years old, Mike Rowe of Turner remains a serious threat to add to his already storied legacy. The three-time Oxford 250 champion, who won the race in 1984, 1997, and 2005, comes into Sunday's race with momentum after winning the Oxford 250 Qualifier on August 15, despite finishing 32nd in the Celebration of America 300 in July.

"The crew's doing a great job for me right now, and if they get the car right like they did last week, we've got as good a shot as anybody," Rowe said.

This year's race carries extra meaning for the Rowe family. Mike's son, two-time Oxford 250 champion Ben Rowe, will also be in the field after posting a top-10 finish in July. Adding another generation to the mix, Mike's grandson is scheduled to race Friday night.

"My son's going to be in it, my grandson's going to be racing Friday night, so there's time for me to step aside and let them guys race and me watch them," Rowe said.

Hall Searching for Consistency

Garrett Hall of Scarborough sits fifth in PASS North points with 2,078, a position that suggests a strong season on paper. But the 31-year-old driver describes 2026 as anything but smooth sailing.

"It's really hard to have one foot to stand on as to what the right thing or the wrong thing is to do," Hall said. "We've really just had unfortunate luck all year long. Just unfortunate circumstances out of our control. Hopefully, we can make all the right moves this weekend and capitalize."

Hall's frustration stems in part from comparison to last year, when he charged from last to first to win the Celebration of America 300 before finishing 15th in the Oxford 250. He believes better results are within reach.

"Auto racing can be a lucky sport, but I also think you have to create your own luck," Hall said. "This year hasn't been horrible, but it also hasn't been great. We've had finishes in fourth or fifth place, but it's not where we are used to being. We just have to dig deep and put all our eggs in one basket this weekend."

A Teenager's Breakthrough

At just 17 years old, Cole Robie of Windham arrives at Oxford Plains with a new kind of confidence. Last week, he picked up his first PASS victory at the Riverside 150 in Groveton, New Hampshire, edging Renfrew to reach victory lane.

"That first (win) is always a little bittersweet," Robie said. "Once you get that, you know the feeling that you want in the car, and you know that feeling you need to get in the car every time you go."

Robie is fourth in the PASS North standings with 2,082 points, and he believes the breakthrough changes his outlook on Sunday's main event.

"Coming into this week, it probably would be hard to wrap my head around getting a 250 win without first getting a PASS win," Robie said. "Now, getting a PASS win, I know I can go out and beat these guys, with the right timing and if everything goes my way."

With veterans, rising stars, and a multigenerational family storyline all converging on Oxford Plains, the 53rd Oxford 250 is shaping up as one of the most compelling chapters yet in Maine's premier short-track racing tradition.